Sputum cup



Sept. 5, 1939. K. c. HAMILTON SPUTUM CUP Original Filed May 22, 1957 Patented Sept. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPUTUM CUP Original application May 22, 1937, Serial No. 144,174. Divided and this application May 27,

1938, Serial No. 210,331

1 Claim.

My invention relates to a sputum cup for receiving the sputum of persons having contagious diseases, colds, and the like.

Broadly, the principal object of the present 5 invention resides in the provision of a new and improved form of cup which may conveniently be employed in hospitals, the sickroom, and when traveling, for the purpose described.

More specifically, the invention resides in the provision of a cup of simple, durable and efficient construction, particularly adapted to be held closely to the mouth of a person for the purpose described, and which cup may easily be disposed of after serving its required purpose, thereby K tending to promote cleanliness in the region about such persons.

Other objects and advantages of the invention reside in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts as will hereinafter more fully 2 be set forth and claimed.

In describing my invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing wherein I have illustrated the preferred physical embodiment thereof, and in which:

25 Figure l is a plan view of a sputum cup embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1 through the sputum cup and a cover therefor; and

30 Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 2 on an enlarged scale.

This application is a division of my copening application for Sputum cup, Serial No. 144,174, filed May 22, 1937.

35 Referring now in detail to the drawing, cup 5 of the present invention is formed from paper. Such paper is preferably opaque, or more or less translucent, either waxed or unwaxed, and in any event Waterproof. Also, paper known as dry 40 wax or wet waxed, bleached or unbleached, may

be employed.

The cup, conveniently formed by suitable dies from a single circular disk of material, comprises a relatively fiat and plain bottom wall 6 45 from which extends an upwardly and outwardly inclined wall 1. Preferably, Wall 1 is folded to provide plaits 8. The plaits may be box plaits, or ordinary plaits as shown. The plaiting is of importance in the matter of simplicity of man- 50 ufacture, and also to give strength and rigidity to the cup. At its upper open rim, cup 5 is provided with an outwardly rolled bead 9.

Wall 1 is provided with an outwardly pressed bead ill forming an inwardly opening channel 55 H adjacent bead 9. Channel II receives the circumferential portion of the upper base of an inverted frusto-conical bafile l2, formed of paper and provided with a central opening !3 through its lower base. The diameter of the upper base of bafile I2 is equal to the interior diameter of 5 channel ll. Bafile I2 is inserted downward into the cup, under pressure, until the edge of the upper base of the bafile reaches the plane of channel II, at which time the circumferential portion of that base snaps into the channel, in 10 which it is effectively held by the resistance to radial distortion of the cup offered by the plaits 8 and the resistance of the baffle to distortion. The baflle l2 prevents leakage in the event of the cup being accidentally upset or tipped over. This cup is well suited for use in hospitals, the sick room, and the like.

I preferably provide the cup with a cover l4, particularly when it is to be used by travelers. This cover also may conveniently be formed of paper such as that above described. It comprises a fiat top l5 provided with a depending flange I6. The latter is curved inwardly and of such diameter as to require it to be forced over bead 9, about which it engages with a clamping action,

as shown in Figure 2, requiring appreciable force to remove the cover from the cup. With the cover l4 clamped upon the cup, the upper portion of the latter is confined, by bead 9 and flange l6, against radial extension and bead Ill is held, by wall I and plaits 8 thereof, contracted tightly about the upper base of b aille I2, preventing displacement thereof.

I claim:

A device of the character described, comprising a cup having a bead of substantially circular cross-section formed on the open marginal edge thereof and providing an abrupt shoulder projecting outward therefrom substantially perpendicular to the outer surface of the body of the cup, the latter being provided a short distance below said bead with an outwardly pressed element forming an inwardly opening circumferen- .tial channel, an inverted frusto-conical baffle having its upper base seating in said channel, and a cover for said cup, said cover being provided with a depending circumferential flange shaped conformably to and engaging about said bead, the latter and said flange cooperating with each other and with the upper base of said baffle to confine the upper portion of the cup against radial distortion andretain the upper base of said baffle seated in said channel.

KENNETH o. HAMILTON. 

